Rebuilding 3.5L in '94 LHS: Design flaws?

[Dan_in_WA]

Hi all; I'm helping my neighbor with the rebuild of the 3.5L in his car because the lube shop left his oil filter LOOSE. Spun a rod bearing. Bad rod knock. Rod is history, crank is still a good core, lube tech that did it is an idiot.

The engine is out, and apart. Clean up is going well. No appreciable bore wear, will add new rings. I've built many engines, but is there anything on this one I need to be especially aware of? Any design probs or such that should be corrected now?

LORDY, but this thing was meant to be a HOT ROD!! Overhead cams, massive intake ports and four valves per cylinder! This thing looks like something you'd see in an Indy car at first blush - not dragging around a heavy car body in urban traffic.

Has anyone hot rodded this engine? The MAF system will take a few mods, if it's like Ford and GM's. Holley fuel injection - too cool.

Build a set of headers for this baby and add a free-flowing exhaust, and go hunting 'Stangs and Camaros.

Back to my original topic: Anything to watch out for? Thanks.

Dan

Edit: Are there any other Forums out there to get specific info on this engine?

[Dan_in_WA]

Anybody? PLEEAAASSSSE?!

Went to dealership. Talked to the guys there, they mentioned leak prone fuel rails AND CHANGE THE @%&* OIL!! Are there oiling problems with this engine?

Has anyone else torn one down, or am I the first?

They also mentioned to check for frame cracks in the frame saddle area, where the engine/trans mounts up. Will do. Anyone seen this problem?

Other than that, this sounds like a pretty trouble-free engine. I've never personally driven one, yet. Do they have a lot of power?

[Night_Train01]

Dan, there must not be very many LHS owners on this board
I just finished putting a new head gasket on my 95 3.5L I drove exactly 23 miles and now I need a new fuel injector, which I just ordered today....I really can't comment at this point as to the power of these engines.

[BBCJUNIOR]

where is the crank sensor on a 94 newyorker 3.5L

[Dan_in_WA]

No crank sensor, IIRC. The driver's side cam sprocket has a ring on the back of it that sends timing pulses to computer.

Is this what you were looking for?

Dan

[dpetdog99]

I don't know what all can be done to the motor to "hot rod" it. It seems that the aftermarket went straight to the second generation LH cars, and there is not much out there for the first gen.

As far as design flaws, I really can't tell you. I have heard though that the timing belt tensioner on Mopar products is a weak link. If you want to, change it out. I have no idea how much it costs, but it's just a piece of steel.

As for power, I think it does the job adequately. Of course I traded up from an '85 Cutlass with a 231. I do wish it had a little more guts on the highway, for passing and merging, but if whoever drives it isn't afraid to get on the pedal every now and then, it'll move pretty quick for a big car. It handles good too!!

Have a good one,

Dan

[IceShaver511]

Try DodgeIntrepid.net, its a forum of LH-Body(Intrepid, LHS, Concorde, LHS, New Yorkers) owners.

[fdrepairshop]

fuel rails have a recall, ignition wires always burning (bad routing), throtle body's always dirty, valve cover leaks all the time passengre side. spark plug tube o-rings leak oil alot.

im working on this crap way too long.

[Dan_in_WA]

Thank you all! The local dealership parts guy told me about the tensioner and the fuel rail, but thanks much for the heads-up about the spark plug wire routing, tube O-rings, pass. side valve cover gasket, etc.

There's just not much to do to hot rod this engine. Custom set of headers, maybe, with a mandrel bent exhaust. I can get gapless rings, but they're too expensive for my neighbor's taste. Something about 2 kids in college.....

[RACINWITHDESTINY]

Iam Sorry Dan That You Were Told There Is No Crank Sensor The 3.5 Does Have 1 It Is Located On The Rear Of The Engine Behind And Below The Coil Pack Passenger Side Of The Engine It Has 1 10mm Bolt Securing It

[dean2]

don't think there is much you can do with a computer controled crysler.to many modifactions and the computer will not compensate. it is gutsy for 215cu. love to see it as v8 say 287cu rwd in a mid size car

[AWP9521]

Chryslers use "Speed Density" for their computer controls, there is no Mass Air sensor on those engines so stock is pretty much what you will get.

There is a little trick that may free up a few ponies and let the engine breathe a little easier, there is a piece of 3" diameter tubing that runs from the Air Box to the hard plastic ducting that attatches to the Throttle Bodies, inside that tubing is a "resonator", a plastic piece that is designed to reduce the intake noise under WOT, if you remove that tubing and look inside you will see a lot of black and a small opening about 1 1/2" in diameter, simply reach your hand in there and remove the "resonator" from the tube, it pushes right out, and chuck it and it might free up a few more ponies but it will not be a drastic change, you'll hear more engine intake noise when you get on it but it will really give a better kick in the 4000 to 6500 RPM range and actually may improve the mileage a little bit.

That RPM range is really where this engine makes the most of it's power, it still has enough torque to chirp the tires out of the hole but once the tach gets past 4 grand it really wakes up and pulls hard right to the 6500 RPM redline.

The aftermarket and Mopar Performance do not have anything to make the engine more powerful as far as bolt ons, if you think about it, the rating for the engine is 214 HP or just a squeak under 1 HP per CID (engine is 214.7 CID or 215 if you round it out) that's pretty decent power and really moves that large car quite well for the weight as well as the fuel mileage on the highway it can achieve.

I can't really add any other info to what has already been covered in the other posts other than it's really sad that the lube shop screwed your neighbor over like that, the 1st gen 3.5 and the 2nd gen 3.2 and 3.5's are really a sweet engine for their size and power.

[wespe]

I had read somwhere that adding a K&N air filter will do a little bit for the performance. I have also read that the superchip for this particular car really does nothing for overall performance so that's money well kept.

The headers and good exhaust sound about the best way to go for the most part. shame they don't have the mass air flow sensors I've already punched out the restriction in the air inlet so now I'm to the point where I've gotta spend a few bucks for anything else

I took my LHS on a trip to Destin Florida back in February and was creeping up on 28 mpg when I lost a sparkplug and dropped to 20 mpg along with the thought of a burned valve or something of the likes.

Has anyone else noticed if their LHS gets better gas mileage the faster they go? It sounds strange to me but I get better gas mileage at 75 than I do at say 60 or 65. :confused

Tracy